Flushing apparatus.



T. W. CHRISTY. l

FLUSHING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED oo'T. 2a, 190s.

Y Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mvmx Wague Patented Nov. 2, 1909.l

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.lllll T. W. CHRISTY.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 2a, 190B.

T. W. GHRISTY. FLUSHING APARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 2s, 190s.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

juve/afar:

THOMAS W. CHRISTY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLUSI-IING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 2, 1909.

Application led. October 28, 1908. Serial No. 459,889.

The invention consists in an electric Hush-- ing apparatus, and in eachand all of certain novel combinations of parts embodied therein, ashereinafter described and claimed.

'if he leading objects of the invention are to adapt such flush valvesto be operated or controlled by electricity, and thus to provide forinstantaneously starting the flush by pushing a button, or automaticallywithout the strain on the seat-hinges of closets which necessitatesheavy and expensive fittings in connection with some forms of automaticflushing apparatus, or periodically under like electric control.

Other objects will be set forth in the general description whichfollows.

'ihree sheets of drawings accompany this specification as parts thereof.

Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical sections in planes at right angles toeach other through one and the same flush tank; Fig. 2 showingdiagrannnatically one species of the electric connections; Fig. 3 is atop view on a larger scale of the electric catch of the flushingapparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with its top plate removed; Figs. tand 5 represent vertical sections on the line A-B, Fig. 3, showing themoving parts in different positions with the aid of dotted lines in Fig.5; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the parts detached; Figs. 7, 8and 9 are fragmentary views and Figs. 10 and 11 are diagramsillustrating additional species and modifications hereinafter described;and Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively sectional and perspective viewsshowing certain details or accessories.A

yLike reference characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

In carrying this invention into effect, an ordinary flushing tank, c,Figs. 1 and 2, is provided in relation to its flush valve-seat, b, andflush valve, c, with a vertical valve stern, cl, the lower end of whichcarries the valve c and is guided by a centering spider', b, Fig. 1,within the valve-seat b, while its upper end is screw-threaded andprovided with a regulating nut, c. Below said nut e the valve stem d isloosely embraced by the tubular stem, f, of a float, g, through whichthe lower end of said stem extends. The upper end of the stem isprovided with a bifurcated extension, adapted to straddle the nut e. Thefloat g is normally held down, as in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 1,in a deeply submerged position, but out of contact with the valve c, bya superjacent lever 71, having a fixedly supported horizontal pivot, z',Fig. 1. The lever 71. interacts with the upper end of the stem withinthe fork f, as in Fig. 2; projects beyond the same and terminates in anupwardly yielding trip, L, Fig. 1, and this trip interacts with theextremity of the catch arm, j, of an electro-magnetic catch, y', whichis shown in detail by Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. Said catch arm j ismovable on a horizontal pivot, 7c, Figs. t and 5, but is normallyrendered rigid to adapt it to interact with said trip h to hold thefioat g down as aforesaid. This is accomplished by the interaction of apair of lugs, 1 and 2, projecting respectively from the armature, Z, ofan electro-magnet, Z, Fig. 3, and from a swinging arm, m', which formspart of a rocking latch, m, shown detached by Fig. 6. The relativepositions of the parts when the catch arm j is latched in its rigidposition are shown in Fig. 4L; and their positions when the catch arm isunlatched, and swings upward, are represented by full and dotted linesin Fig. 5. The latch m is constructed with a pair of lips, 3 and t, Fig.6, on its horizontal body portion to interact with the extremity of arigid projection, 5, on the pivot end of the arm j. Then the arm isrigid the interaction is between said projection 5 and the lower lip 3,as in Figs. 3 and 1. Then the catch arm y" drops back by gravity, fromthe position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, itsprojection 5 interacts with the upper lip 4 to turn the latch m on itshorizontal pivot, n n, and to turn the latch arm m from its droppedposition, Fig. 5, to its effective position, Fig. t.

A pair of stop projections, 6 and 7, on the pivot end of the catch army" and on the latch m, respectively; interact with internal surfaces ofan inclosing box, o, to limit the displacement of the movable parts;andsaid box is provided with attaching means, 8 and 9, Fig. 3, and withinsulated electric terminals, 10 and 11, for the respective extremitiesof the electro-magnet Z. Said stop projection 6 contacts as an emergencystop wit-h the adjacent edge of au internal part of the box 0, shown at6 inFigs. 3, 4E and 5, at the limit of the downward movement of thecatch arm j. Said stop projection '7 contacts with the corresponding boxsurface l7'directly behind it at thelimit of the downward movement ofthe latch arm m, as shown in Fig. 5. Another stop projection 7 formedo-n said internal `part (3 of the box o, as shown in Figs. 3, L1 and 5,contacts with said latch yarm m', as inFig. 11, at the limit of theupward. movement of said latch arm. The karmature Z is normally heldinits effective position by a retracting spring, y), 'Fig.'3, and is movedto release the catch arm jwhen attracted by the pas- Vsage of theelectric lcurrent through the magnet Z. The current through the magnet Zfrom a battery, g, Fig. 2, or a'pair vof line wires by way of wires, 13,13 and 14, and said terminals, 10 and 11, may obviously' be controlledby a contact device, 7', F 8, operated automatically by the rcustomaryweight-lifted seat, 7,.Fig. `7, of an automatic closet, or by anordinary push button, s-s, Fig. 9, as hereinafter more particularlydescribed.

vFor periodically operating the Hush valve by an automatic circuitbreaker, the rtank a is provided, internally, with a vertically movablefloat, t, Fig. 2, adjustable as to height ona screw-"threaded stem, t,the lower end of which is guided by a step 15, attached to the bottomlining of thetank, while its upper end is guided by a hole'in the bottomof a Contact box, a, attached to 'the upper edge of the tank, andcarries a contact disk, 16, which, when the float t' rises to thepredetermined extent, presses against and temporarily connects a pair ofbroken connection contacts, 17 and 18, to which said wires 13 and 13 arerespectively connected. The current from the battery g or line wires isthus caused to pass through said wires 13, 13 and lil, and through themagnet l, energizing the latter `and attracting the armature Z, whichreleases the catch arm j, ras above described with reference to Figs. 3to 6 inclusive. The released catch arm j in turn frees the lever 71. Themain float g is thus permitted to rise until it reaches the surface ofthe water or until its upward movement'is arrested by the interaction ofthe heel end of the lever z. with a stop screw, 19, Fig. 1. During thismovement the upper end of the stemV turns the lever L on 4its pivote',and through the medium of the lever 1-regulat.ing nut e and stem alVlifts the valve c. The valve c is kept open during they flush by aneccentric weight,

fu, attachedto or integral with the heel end of the lever z andeccentrically pivoted therewithby said pivot z' to a bracket, fw, whichis att-ached to the upper edge of the tank a, opposite the electriccatch Vhen the heel end of the lever h contacts with the stop screw 19,as in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the center of gravityof the weight n is tothe left of the pivot z' as viewed in that gure; and the weight, throughthe lever J1., nut c' and stem (l, sustains the weight of the valve cand therewith that of the valve stem and nut, by its inertia. Meanwhile,thefloat stem t', and contact disk 16 have dropped sov asto again breakthe electric connection, the armaturel has been retracted by its spring'29, and the catch arm j has dropped back by gravity to its normalposition, Fig. 1, and is again rendered rigid by the interactiontherewith of the latch m. As the level of the water falls, the float gdescends therewith; while the eccentric weight 'u through the lever h,nut c and stem d, holds the valve c open, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1,until the Vfloat g comes down on the valve. The weight of the float gand its stem added to that of the valve c, valve stem l and nut e,acting-through said nut e, then brings the lever h back against a stopscrew, 20, Fig. 1, with its trip hbeneath the catch arm j whichdetermines its normal position, represented by full lines in thatfigure.In that movement thecenter of Lgravity of the eccentric weight o passesto the right of the pivot z', as viewed in Fig. 1, and the weight thentends to quickly complete such return movement of the lever. Immediatelyprevious to the action of said stop screw 20, the trip l1. passes thecatch arm j, preparatory to interacting therewith again, to Ahold thefloat g down until it is again electrically released. lThe valve cremains closed by its weight and that of the valve stem (Z and nut cuntil it is again lifted by the electrically released fioat g. Anordinary overflow communicating with thevalve seat b beneath they valvec. is represented at a@ in Fig. 1.

In the modification represented by Figs. 7 and 8, the contact device 1is preferably located within an adjacent wall, y, behind the seat r,except a protruding trip, 21, arranged toi interact with the weightcarrying arm,'22, Fig. 7, of the seat, which allows the seat to belowered without effect on the contact device, and causes the same tooperate the contact device automatically when the seat is relevated bythe weight, Q3, Fig. 7. The trip 21 is carried by a` lever, 24, Fig. 8,which is movable on ahorizontal brass post, 25, and Aalso `carries oneof the contacts, 17 and 18; the vother of-which (1S) is likewise movableon a horizontal brass post, 26, in the form of a pendant, soas'to yieldwhen the contact is closed, to prevent strain; the1 scenes wires 13-13leading from one pole of the battery g to one of the terminals 10V and11 Y of the electric catch y', being extended by way of said contacts 1Tand 1S, Fig. S.

In the modification represented by Fig. 9, the movable contact 16 issimply attached to or carried by the movable member s of a push button;the normally separated or broken connection contacts 1T and 18 areattached to or supported within the pushbutton housing s, and the wires13-13 leading from one pole of the battery Q are suitably extended byway of these contacts 17 and 1S to one of the terminals 10 and 11 of theelectric catch By simply changing the wiring representeddiagrammatically in Fig. 2 the automatic or float controlled circuitbreaker z-a, shown in that ligure, may be and preferably is used .inconnection with either said seatoperated contact device 71, Figs. 7 andS, or said push-button device 8 8', Fig. 9, as a supplemental circuitbreaker, to prevent wasting the battery or wearing the electric catchand producing noise by prematurely or unnecessarily operating the tri-plever 21--2fl, or the push button s. In this case the contact device uof said circuit breaker Fig. 2, and either of those represented by saidFigs. 7 and 8, or Fig. 9 are electrically connected with the electriccatch y' in one and the same circuit, which must consequently be closedat both of the two points to operate the catch.

Fig.' 10 represents diagrammatically a circuit including said seatoperated contact d evice fr, with the contact device u of saidioatcontrolled circuit breaker. As here shown the wire 13, 13, 13,connecting one pole of the battery y with one pole of the electromagnetof the catch may consist of three sections with said contact devices uand '1" interposed between the sections 13 and 13 and the sections 13and 13 respectively; while the wire 14: from the other pole of thebattery g may simply connect the battery and catch magnet.

Fig. 11 represents diagrammatically a like circuit, including saidpush-button device 8 8 with said contact device u of the tloatcontrolledcircuit breaker; the two contact devices being interposed betweensuccessive sections 12E-13 and 13-13 of the wire connecting one pole ofthe battery g with one pole ot' the electromagnet of the catch l'; whilethe wire 14 from the other pole of the battery simply connects thebattery and catch-magnet.

It will be understood that with either of the arrangements representedby Figs. 10 and 11, the automatic circuit breaker operates simply toclose the circuit when the tank is full and to break the circuit whenthe flush is started, but cannot operate to start the flush until theseat controlled device or the push button is operated and in unisontherewith. Also that the flush cannot be started by said seat-controlleddevice nor by the push button unless and until the circuit is alsoclosed by said float-controlled device.

Then the main parts of the improved iiushing apparatus as abovedescribed with reference to Figs. 1 to (3 inclusive, are in what may betermed their set positions, represented by full lines in Fig. 1, and byFigs. 2, 8 and 4l, before a flushing action, the opposing forces are thebuoyancy of the main float, g, and the resistance of the armature, Z tothe downward movement of the latch arm m. Upon the release of said latcharm m by the movement of the armature, said main ioat g lifts the lever,It, which in turn carries up the catch arm y" until the latter slips ottthe trip it ot' said lever and drops back to its normal position, Fig.t. In this downward movement ot the catch arm j, the rear projection, 5,of said catch arm, interacting` with the lip, f1, of the catch, m,raises the latch arm, m to its normal position and permits the armatureproj ection 1 to pass beneath the latch arm pro` jection 2. During thesucceeding fall of the y'ater in the tank, and the descent of the mainioat g therewith, the valve is kept wide open as long as may be requiredby the inertia. of the eccentric weight, c, in its position representedby dotted lines in Fig. 1. then said main float in its descent reachesthe open valve c, the weight of the two with that of their stems and theregulating'nut, e, overcomes such inertia of the weight f2, and thevalve is quickly closed; the trip /L having meanwhile interlocked afreshwith the arm j of the electric catch. rlhe water then rises, and actingthrough said main float g, and its stem f, and the lever IL, presses thetrip 7L against the rigid catch arm I7", when the flushing device isagain $6 Set.

The heads of the stop screws, 19 and 20, are preferably provided withcushions, 27, Fig. 12, and la cushioning washer, 28, Fig. 13, isinterposed between the lever /L and the nut c, to prevent noise.

The shapes and proportions of the various mechanical and electricaldevices may 0bviously vary without materially affecting the mode ofoperation hereinbefore described, and other like modifications willsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described said improvement, I gclaim as my invention anddesire to patent under this specication Y 1. An electric flushingapparatus having, in combination, an electro-magnetic catch including anarmature, a pivoted latch normally interlocked with said armature, apivoted catch arm rendered rigid by the interaction of said armature andlatch, .a lever terminating in a .trip Which normally interlocks Withsaid arm, a normally submerged float interacting with said lever, aflush valve controlled by said float, means for electrically operatingsaid catch to release said float, and means for transmitting motion fromthe released float to said valve to Open the latter.

2. The combination, in a iushing apparatus, of a vertically movableflush valve, a superjacent float, means for transmitting motion fromsaid float to open said valve, means for keeping said float normallysubmerged and for releasing the same including an electro-magnetic catchhaving its normally retracted armature and an adjacent pivotedlatchprovided with normally interlocked projections, a catch arm movable onahorizontal axis and normally interlocked With said latch, a leverhaving a horizontal pivot and a trip normally interlocked with saidcatch arm, a normally Open electric circuit, and means for closing thesame through Lthe magnet of said catch to Operate said armature andrelease said loat.

3. The combination, in a flushing apparatus, of a vertically movableilush valve, a .superjacent i'loat, means for transmitting motion from.said float to open said valve, means for keeping saidi'loat normallysubmerged and for releasing the. same including an electro-magneticcatch including an armature, a pivoted latch normally interlocked Withsaid armature, a catch arm movablek on a horizontal axis and renderedrigid by the interaction Ofsaid armature .and latch, a lever having ahorizontal pivot and a trip normally interlocked `with said catch arm, anormally Open electric circuit, and means for periodically closin0` saidcircuit through the magnet of said catch to operate said armature andrelease said iioat; such circuit-closing means including a verticallymovable float having a stem movable therewith and provided with acontact disk, and brokenconnection contacts arranged to interact withsaid disk.

t. The combination, in a flushing apparatus, of a vertically movableiiush valve,`

having a vertical stemV provided With a regu-` lating nut, a levermovable On a iXed horizontal pivot to interact with said nut for openingthe valve and provided With an eccentric Weight, a normally submergedfloat having a stem arranged to interact With said lever, and means for`rendering said lever normally locked to hold-the float down and forreleasing the same; said Weight operating through said lever, said nutand the valve stem to hold the valve Open during each flushingOperation.

5. The combination, in a flushing apparatus, of a vertically movableflush valve having a vertical stem provided With a regulatng nut, alever movable on a xed horizontal pivot tO intersect with said nut foropening the valve and provided With an eccentric Weight, a normallysubmerged float having a stem arranged to interact With said lever, andmeans for rendering said lever normally locked to hold the float downand for releasing the same; said Weight being constructed and arrangedto operate through said lever and said stem of the float to assist inrestoring the parts to normal condition after each flushing Operation,substantially as hereinbefore specified.

THOMAS lV. CHRISTY. lVitnesses CHAs. A. JOHNSON, Louis V. JOHNSON.

